If a finish is in solid condition and has no signs of peeling or corrosion underneath then it can be scuffed & repainted using Scotchbrite or a 400 grit sandpaper. Otherwise it would be better to strip it & start over. If you do powder coat then you have to take very good care of it. If powder coat starts to deteriorate then it is very difficult to strip & refinish. A wire wheel is a lot of work to finish properly for sure.
\In 1968, 32 Model B 4dr sedan, Newport RI. on a Saturday morning, 2 cases of beer, 2 cans red Rustoleum, 2 brushes,4-5 hours, al five wheels painted and not much paint on the ground or tires.
Paul in CT
I guess the powder coat gives a hardened baked on finish that is easy to clean and care for rather than regular painting.Given the condition of the paint on the wheel, the easiest way to paint a spoke wheel is to turn it over to a powder coat provider, as Lawson recommends. They will remove all of the old paint and it will come back to you with the color evenly distributed everywhere without a drip or a sag in the paint finish. (Obviously you will need to remove the tire and inner tube beforehand.) The color selections available these days in powder coating are very extensive and it is likely that a good color match will be available. Further, powder coating will likely cost less, all in, given the time and effort required to prepare a spoke wheel for conventional painting.
Spoke wheels can, of course, be spray painted, but it is not a job for a painting novice as it requires a rotisserie to keep the wheel turning throughout the application of paint (and thereafter until the paint sets up) to ensure a uniform application of paint and to prevent drips and sags in the paint.
The main concern seems to be in breaking the powder coat when you adjust the wire wheels. You don't adjust the 1933 Ford wire wheels (except initially if they are bent). Be sure to find a good powder coater, they are not all created equal. Also be sure to specify a powder that is designed for being outdoors in the sun. I had the wire wheels on my 1931 powder coated 25 years ago and they have held up fine.For this....
Maybe powder coat for wire wheels not a good idea?
http://www.mgexp.com/phorum/read.php?3,2910951
Maybe 31flamingo has the right idea! Sounds like more fun anyway.